Black Panther Step in Right Direction

After over a year of anticipation, the Marvel superhero movie Black Panther finally hit theatres on Feb.16. Predicted to make between $100 and $120 million in its opening weekend, the film shattered box office records, accumulating around $241.9 million domestically and becoming the fifth largest opening weekend of all time.

Director Ryan Coogler’s “Black Panther” centers on T’Challa, the newly appointed leader of Africa’s hidden technological center, Wakanda, as he struggles to deal with the threats facing his homeland. The initial threat was found in the resurfacing of one of the nation’s enemies, Klaw. Though this is the case, Klaw’s storyline was not the focus of the film, rather it acted as a gateway to the larger, more confrontational aspects of the story.

Many things contribute to the praise surrounding “Black Panther.” For one, the art that went into the film was phenomenal. The building of Wakanda and its society made the story all the more compelling. The depiction of the rich African culture along with the vast landscapes places viewers directly into the lives of these citizens and helps them connect to their cause.

Wakanda itself will leave you breathless. The acting is another riveting part of the film. Familiar names such as Forest Whitaker, Angela Bassett, Michael B. Jordan and Andy Serkis come together to captivate the audience with their performances. The chemistry between the actors and the power behind their characters is something that cannot be forgotten. Coogler did an excellent job structuring these characters. Each relationship seemed genuine and proper depth was added to many of the characters as they all embarked on their own internal journeys. Each individual component aided in the making of this incredible movie experience.

“Black Panther” is not only a brilliant movie but also history in the making. It was often believed that films about African people with black casts can’t be mainstream hits. Black Panther put an end to that myth. People of all races lined up to see this film. Theatres were packed with movie-goers in cultural dress and “Black Panther” merchandise.

A sense of community was created among the African-American population as black children were, for the first time, able to see themselves so strongly represented in a major motion picture. Young black girls were finally able to see powerful women, holding high positions that looked like them. It’s refreshing knowing that these kids now have such empowering figures to look up to. This is exactly the film audiences needed. “Black Panther” is a step in the right direction for the future.